This robot dog sets a world record by running 100 meters in less than 20 seconds

2023-12-15 06:30:00

If he were human, Hound would be called Usain Bolt. The name of this robot dog designed by the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology will appear in the next Guinness Book of Records because it is the quadrupedal automaton having traveled a distance of 100 meters the fastest. With a time of 19.87 seconds and an average speed of 18 km/h, in October he beat Cassie, an impressive bipedal robot developed by Agility Robotics who had covered the same distance in 24.73 seconds a year earlier early.

Its designer, Young-Ha Shin, revealed the secrets of its speed to Guinness World Records. “All of these movements were accomplished using a single motor control.” This has previously been subjected to simulation techniques using reinforcement learning. “In order to push the limits of the actuator, the characteristics of the motor were incorporated into the simulation to make the environment as close to the real world as possible,” continues the engineer.

VOS INDICES

source

The robot is also capable of jumping obstacles

Weighing only 45 kilos and equipped with sprinter’s legs, Hound was designed to run at high speeds. This is evidenced by the parallel configuration of its hip and knee actuators as well as the pulley-belt system – which transmits actuation from the knee to the knee joint – which allows for a wide range of movement.

Hound is a complete athlete. Beyond his qualities as a runner, according to Guinness World Records, he can also climb a 22 degree slope, walk for 3.5 km or even overcome a 35 cm high obstacle! But he still has a long way to go before he can beat Usain Bolt’s 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds.